Officiating crew reprimanded over blown call

The officiating crew that oversaw the Trojans’ 17-14 win over Virginia will be reprimanded and taken off a future assignment because of a botched call, the Pac-10 notified the University of Virigina Monday.

The call came after a Cavaliers’ fake punt with 11 minutes left in the second quarter. Virginia punter Jummy Howell threw a 35-yard pass to tight end Colter Phillips that put the Cavs on the Trojans’ 25-yard line, but the play was called back because of what the officials called an illegal chop block. Because it was negated, Virginia punted the ball away.

Virginia sent out a release detailing what the Pac-10 had to say on the matter:

“The Pac-10 has disciplined the officials involved in last Saturday’s Virginia-USC football game for failure to apply the playing rules correctly, Commissioner Larry Scott announced today. Those officials involved in making the call have been reprimanded and will be removed from a future game assignment.

The officials misapplied rules for blocking below the waist on a Virginia fake punt in the second quarter. According to the playing rules, blocking below the waist anywhere on the field by either team is illegal if the offense is lined up in a scrimmage kick formation, unless a kick is not made.

‘The officials recognized the mistake after the fact and apologized to the Virginia coaching staff,’ Scott said. ‘We know mistakes are made in games, but we will not tolerate our officials misinterpreting the rules. We believe the reprimand and removal from a future assignment are appropriate.’”